The Small Isles, Scotland

Part of the Inner Hebrides, the four main islands and several smaller ones in the Small Isles make for a picturesque scene.

The Isle of Eigg in the distance.

5. Description

The Small Isles are an archipelago
composed of the four islands of Eigg, Rum, Muck and Canna. They are found in
the Inner Hebrides in the north of Scotland. Each island is unique and offers a beautiful
view of the sea and surrounding islands.
The Isle of Eigg is community owned and its population of 100 makes it
the most populated of the four islands. The
largest of the islands is Rum, owned by the local community of 45 and by the
Scottish Natural Heritage foundation. The Isle of Muck is owned by the McEwan
family and is the smallest island, with a population of 40. Canna is the island furthest to the north and
has a population of 12. It is owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

4. Historical Role

The history of the Small Isles is filled with clan violence, but apart from this they have their unique paths of development. Eigg was part of the Norse empire until seized by the MacDonald clan, who gained official title of the island in 1309 from the legendary Scottish ruler Robert the Bruce. The Isle of Eigg was known as Eilean Nimban More, “Island of the Powerful Women,” until the Sixteenth Century. In the 1990s it came into the possession of a German artist who sold it to the Eigg Heritage Trust in 1997. Rum was the site of one of Scotland’s first human settlements. It was heavily affected by an unsustainable growth in population and by poverty. The clearances ordered by the English government from 1826-1828 left only fifty residents on the island. The Isle of Muck was also affected by the clearances. In 1828 the kelp market crashed and 150 residents were sent to Canada. From 1891 to 1975 the Small Isles were in the region of Scotland called Inverness-shire.

3. Modern Significance

Today the Small Isles are valued for their rich archaeological
heritage, geology, and their historical significance. Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum offers a beautiful
step back into the Edwardian era. The
economy of Rum is dependent on Scottish Natural Heritage funds. Eigg caters to
tourists and holds a crofting museum providing visitors with a look at everyday
life of locals from the past. Canna
House on the Isle of Canna is a center of local Hebrides culture and
literature. The islands are part of the
Lochaber Geopark and thus an important part of Scotland’s conservation
campaigns.

2. Habitat and Biodiversity

The Small Isles are listed among Scotland’s National Scenic Areas for their breathtaking views. The Isle of Rum is a National Nature Reserve, especially for sea eagles who were reintroduced to the island in the 1980s. Rum is also valued for its cluster of volcanic peaks. The Isle of Canna is categorized as a Special Protection Area due to its sea bird species. On the Isle of Muck there are over eighty species of sea birds and, unlike its neighboring islands, Muck is composed of mostly low, treeless, and extremely fertile land. However, its Beinn Airein Mountain at 452 feet offers a beautiful panoramic view. Eigg is home to a large number of bird species as well, and is a breeding ground for golden eagles, buzzards, and long-eared owls.

1. Environmental Threats and Territorial Disputes

The owners have
taken steps to protect and conserve the Small Isles. The Isle of Eigg generates almost one hundred
percent of its electricity through renewable energy. Rum has also become the location for the
reintroduction of the sea eagle. Due to
their northerly location in the islands have much the same tourists yearly, who
are committed to the conservation of the Small Isles and to the increase of
their biodiversity. A number of species have been re-introduced on several of
the islands.